Safe place for young to tell their stories

Sunday

Sep 2, 2012 at 4:00 AM

By AMANDA ROLIK Staff Writer

WOOSTER -- For children who have suffered from alleged sexual abuse or serious physical abuse, the Wayne County Children's Advocacy Center provides a truly home-like environment where victims can safely begin the process of recovery.

The CAC has been serving the community since it started in 2004, and has been located in a home at 1734 Gasche St., owned by Wooster Community Hospital since February.

The home is meant to provide a child-friendly meeting place in a comfortable environment where children can tell their story. It is a centralized, neutral location where a child and his or her family can meet with not only the staff of the CAC, but also Wayne County Children Services, medical professionals, law enforcement and victim advocates from the county prosecutor's office. Upon arriving, children are taken into a private room to be interviewed by a case worker who is specially trained for forensic interviewing.

"Our goal is that every child feels safe and secure," said Deanna Stika, executive director of CAC, noting it is important to make children feel big in their environment.

To accomplish that, the room comes equipped with different sized tables that can be swapped out to accommodate smaller children.

Interviews are recorded and viewed separately by all of those who need to observe for the purpose of an investigation. That way, the child has to tell his or her story only once, explained Stika. If a child discloses abuse, then he or she is offered a medical examination.

Both the interview and examination are done with the child knowing his or her caregivers are waiting nearby, right around the corner.

The medical exams can differ depending on the child's situation. An acute exam is given to those who have experienced abuse in the preceding 72 hours. Otherwise, exams are much like a typical well-child exam.

At the CAC, children and their families can also be directed to whatever types of social and mental health services they need.

"We try to hook families up so they feel they've been wrapped around with services," said Stika.

Before leaving, children who visit are able to pick an item out of a cabinet in the kitchen, which is filled with donated blankets, dolls and Beanie Babies. The dolls are from the Giving Doll Program, based in Wadsworth, and are donated by the Orrville Exchange Club. Snacks are provided for the children as well, and are donated by the Wooster Junior Service Club.

"I just see what they do with the kids at the advocacy center ... to see that kids can be heard and believed, you can see activity taking place to help," said CAC board member Karen Nagy, who experienced sexual abuse for many years as a child.

"That's why I wanted to get involved," Nagy said. "My abuser was someone that was very well known and very respected in the community, I know most people would not have believed ... what happened."

Nagy said the new location of the CAC is much more comfortable for children than other types of facilities, such as police departments or hospitals.

"Just the privacy of the center (helps). It should help the child and the family feel a lot more comfortable," said Nagy.

The Wayne County CAC is a nationally accredited child advocacy center, and according to Stika, research has shown having a child advocacy center in a community helps abuse cases to be resolved quicker, helps families receive services more quickly and increases long-term positive results.

Families can contact the CAC if they need help, although many of the CAC's cases come through children services.

The CAC is staying particularly busy this year, and has helped 175 victims so far in 2012. In comparison, the agency helped 165 victims throughout all of 2011.

"We're seeing an increase this year," said Stika, who added "I don't think we suddenly have an explosion of sexual abuse in Wayne County."

Rather, Stika believes it may have to do with growing awareness, a possible result of the highly publicized Penn State sexual abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

"I feel it has brought about a national awareness," Stika said. "It's definitely on a national platform."

To increase awareness, the agency works to provide information to help prevent abuse. The CAC spreads information through a campaign called One With Courage, as well as a program called Darkness to Light, which provides a concrete outline for what to do if abuse of a child is suspected.

Stika stressed it is an adult's responsibility to protect children in their community.

"Children experience this type of abuse from someone they know," Stika said. "It's up to adults to know what to look for."

Despite what some may believe, Stika assured that sexual abuse is happening in Wayne County.

"We are not different than any other community across the nation," Stika said. "Our numbers are no different than the national average."

The signs of abuse can be very simplistic, and it is all about knowing what to look for and having the courage to seek help, said Stika. Nagy agreed adults should focus on being aware so that they can help a child who has been hurt.

"I think that people should be very aware of the children in their lives, watching for issues or changes that might indicate that something has taken place that's hurt them," said Nagy, adding it is important to believe children and be supportive in helping them find aid so they can start healing and move forward in their lives.

For more information about the CAC, visit www.waynecac.org, call 330-262-1063 or find the CAC on Facebook.

Reporter Amanda Rolik can be reached at 330-287-1635 or arolik@the-daily-record.com.